Introducing the Puma King XL, the relaunched football boot from Puma celebrates 40 years of existence.

There are few football boots that stand the test of time and have an iconic reputation. Football boots that have been adorned by some of the best footballers the world has ever seen, football boots that are as highly rated today as they were decades ago. When you think of this select group of football boots, the Puma King proudly stands as one of the legends in football boots.

Puma King XL

The Puma King celebrates its 40th birthday this year. First introduced in 1968 as the “King Eusébio” to honour Portugal’s legendary Mozambican-born soccer star Eusébio da Silva Ferreira who was the top scorer at the 1966 World Cup.

Over the years, the King became a legend and was worn by legends. The world’s greatest football stars wore the King including Eusébio, Brazil’s Pele, Argentina’s Maradona and Dutch maestro Johan Cruyff.

This month the Puma King will be re-launched worldwide with a limited edition collection to celebrate its 40th birthday and will be worn on-field at Euro 2008 by Italy’s Massimo Oddo and Germany’s Thomas Hitzlsperger.

The Puma King was born when Eusébio, after scoring nine goals at the 1966 World Cup, worked with Puma to develop a signature football boot which debuted two years later.

It featured increased ankle protection, soft, subtle leather and exceptional ball control. The appeal of the Puma King and the marketing around it was so powerful that consumers were no longer purchasing just a product – but a state of mind and a sporting image as well.

Worn by Eusébio, Pele, Maradona and Cruyff, the football boot became synonymous with reliability and success, selling millions of pairs over the past four decades.

The Puma King will be relaunched worldwide in May and the limited edition Puma line will be available in a special Rio red colourway with gold trim inspired by ruby, the traditional 40th wedding anniversary gift.

The Rio red colour is also seen in the national flag of Portugal, the country Eusébio represented at the World Cup. The special collection will be printed with the years “1968-2008” under the iconic King logo to recognize the 40th anniversary of the Puma King.

For the traditionalists amongst you the black-white King collection will arrive in stores one month later. The football boots will feature MCMLXVII logo on the sole.

Puma King XL Tech Spec

The Puma King XL (XL stands for Roman numeral “40”) football boot stands for quality, heritage and tradition. The newest edition includes classic lines and traditional styling, but with updated materials, enhanced features and new design details.

With raised bead line, toe overlay and lateral stability insert inspired by the Eusébio boot 40 years ago, the new King XL is executed with today’s best production technology. Super-soft, ultra-thin full-grain leather is complemented by a high-density silicon heel counter and conical firm ground stud construction for optimal stability and maneuverability.

The upper is embossed with a leaping cat logo on the vamp and King logo on the lateral side – with the limited edition version featuring the “Eusébio 68” signature.

The limited edition collection football boots will launch in selected stores May 29, 2008 with the traditional black-white products hitting retailers globally on June 28, 2008.

Four down and two to go. Footy Boots is challenging the stamina of Arsenal legend Perry Groves as he continues his exhaustive set of football boot video tests.

With football boot manufacturers on edge around the world to see if Perry gives their product the thumbs up, this week it’s the turn of Puma execs for the cold sweat treatment as our Footy Boots expert tries out the V1.08.

Admittedly, our Perry may not have the build of some of the athletes in the Puma V1.08 ad, (Samuel Eto’o is probably the only player who comes close) but he was still willing to give it a go nonetheless.

To see what he thought of the V1.08, all you need to do is click here.

You’d think that any player turning out for Spanish giants Real Madrid would be coining it in with a major football boot contract. Well, no as at matter of fact.

Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze, formerly of Manchester United, has recently been playing in a pair of football boots which he’s blacked out.

The Argentine international, who’s not overly loved at Old Trafford after trying unsuccessfully to get a move to Liverpool, before settling on Madrid explained why saying:

It is very simple. I do not have a contract with any company. I had a contract, it ended and so I painted the boots black. Why am I going to give publicity to a company with which I no longer have a contract? There is no mystery.

Heinze’s contract was with Puma as you can see from the image below.

Oh, hang on, wrong Heinze. This is the one.

And if you know of any other top player who’s in a similar position as Heinze, do let us know at Footy Boots.

Hot on the heels of the story we ran earlier this week on Footy Boots about Obafemi Martins allegedly switching from Nike to Adidas in a deal worth £1.7 per year, there’s news today that the Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has signed a multi million pound contract of his own with the German brand.

Cech, who kept a clean sheet against Liverpool in midweek in the Champions League semi final 1st leg, has put pen to paper on a deal worth £17.5 million over the next 5 years.

Cech will play wearing Predator Powerswerve Absolute boots and also Response Pro gloves specially embroided with his name. Adidas have also developed a protective padded helmet. Cech has been wearing a Canterbury made helmet since his horrific collision with Reading’s Stephen Hunt back in 2006 which left him requiring emergency surgery.

How that will affect Puma remains to be seen. They were always unhappy when Cech wore the Canterbury head gear when playing for the Czech national side which they sponsor. An Adidas version probably won’t improve their mood.

In addition to the Adidas deal, Cech has signed a one year extension to his existing deal with Samsung. As well as appearing in a campaign in his home country, he will also feature in an additional European TV and print advert, with three other Chelsea players for the Samsung 650 LCD TV. The commercial was filmed in March.

Earlier this month, it looked like Cech’s season was over when he received another bad injury during training. Defender Tal Ben-Haim accidentally caught him in the face and the resulting wound required 50 stitches. But the 25 year old made a dramatic recovery and was back in-between the sticks just a week later.

At Anfield on Tuesday, he produced 2 top quality saves to deny Fernando Torres, the second coming late in the game, moments before Chelsea scored their dramatic equalizer.

This weekend, it’s another big game for Cech and his team mates as they face Premier League leaders Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in a match that will go a long way in deciding the fate of the title.

Back in the spring of 2006, as we waited for Sven to lead England to World Cup glory (ahem) Footy Boots brought you the definitive list of boots worn by the England squad.

Two years on and with the cream of the Premier League about to be unleashed on the Parisian public, we thought it was high time to see how things have changed, particularly with the announcement of the new Nike Total 90 Laser II as worn by Wayne Rooney and the new colourways from Umbro for the SX Flare, Michael Owen’s football boot, and the SX Valor, the choice of defender John Terry.

So, after exhaustive research which involved at least 3 emails to a couple of mates with nothing better to do over Easter, here’s our guide to who’s wearing what in Fabio Capello’s 23 man squad to face France.

Of course, if you know better, we’d love to hear from you.

Goalkeepers

Paul Robinson - Nike T90 Laser White/Black/Charcoal

David James – Kelme (working with Kelme on the design of a new boot)
Robert Green - Umbro Speciali

Defenders

John Terry - Umbro SX Valor Red/White/Blue

Rio Ferdinand - Nike T90 Laser II
Ashley Cole - adidas F50.8 Tunit (contract) using Predator Absolute
Wes Brown - adidas Predator PowerSwerve TRX Black/White/Red
Joleon Lescott - adidas F50.7 Tunit II White Blue
Wayne Bridge – Puma King Exec - White/Black
Glen Johnson - adidas Predator Absolute Champions League Black/White/Zest
Jonathan Woodgate – adidas Predator Power Swerve TRX Black/White/Red

Midfielders

David Bentley - Puma V-Konstrukt II FG White/Silver/Insignia

Frank Lampard - adidas adiPure TRX White/Black
Joe Cole - Nike Air Legend II White/Black
Steven Gerrard - adidas Predator PowerSwerve TRX Black/White/Red
David Beckham - adidas Predator PowerSwerve TRX FG DB White/Gold
Stewart Downing - adidas F50.7 Tunit II Poppy Red
Gareth Barry - Umbro Speciali Italia Black/White/Red
Owen Hargreaves - Nike T90 Laser White/Black/Dark Charcoal

Forwards

Wayne Rooney - Nike T90 Laser II Black/Green

Michael Owen - Umbro SX Flare Red/White/Black

Peter Crouch - Puma V1.06 K-Leather Black
Theo Walcott - Nike Mercurial Vapor SL Orange Peel

(With thanks to Matthew Hannant)

Footy Boots profiles Jochen Zeitz, CEO of leading sportslifestyle brand Puma.

To command an annual salary of £8 million a year, Puma’s 44 year old CEO Jochen Zeitz must be doing something right. Chief executive of Puma since 1993, Zeitz, is credited with transforming the fortunes of the German football boot brand, from being a loss making outfit to a global giant. Trained as a marketer by the American multinational Colgate-Palmolive, he speaks five languages, never wears a tie, keeps a holiday home in Africa, and flies his own planes.

Only this week, Puma revealed impressive 2007 sales figures, giving optimism for a successful 2008 (see article). Despite strengthening its position in the sports lifestyle arena, Puma still trails its German rival Adidas and America’s Nike. Both are five times its size, having quickly followed Zeitz’s “sports lifestyle” path. Can Puma thus ever catch rivals Nike and Adidas?
“Not interested in catching them,” he shrugs. “Whether you are three, two or one is meaningless. You need to be relevant and innovative; that’s what counts.”

Puma was founded by Rudolf Dassler, brother of Adi Dassler (Adidas) in 1948. When Zeitz joined, the company was in turmoil – it had slumped into loss after the glory years of making Pele’s football boots. “It was a mess, very bureaucratic, very traditional, very German-centric,” says Zeitz, frowning. “Our export manager could barely speak English.”

But the difficulties gave Zeitz the opportunity to rise fast. “We had three chief executives in two years, each one promoted me. Then we were taken over by a Swedish owner, who asked me to give a presentation about what I thought was wrong.” The presentation won Zeitz the top job. He was just 29. “Everyone thought I would only last six months.”

He started by laying off staff, closing unprofitable production lines and warehouses. By 1994 he had recorded Puma’s first profits since 1986. Three more years of retrenchment were followed by five years of investment. Most importantly, says Zeitz, the brand was repositioned. “Puma in the 1980s was a cheap brand. I said let’s become premium. Let’s bring fashion and style into play.”

And he made Puma cool with a series of gambles, such as pouring money into Jamaican reggae. “We are a sports brand but we want to be something else, too. Jamaica is perfect. There are athletes but also the atmosphere, the climate, the music, the lifestyle.” Design coups like the bodysuits worn by Serena Williams and the Cameroon football team kept Puma in the headlines.

The Beijing Olympics and European football championships promise a good summer ahead. Puma sponsors World Cup winners Italy. In addition, only recently Puma has been linked with a possible takeover bid for fellow football boot brand Umbro. Straight talker Zeitz however dismisses this possibility out of hand: “Too much blood, sweat and tears.” “Not sexy enough,” he says. Creating sexy business is Zeitz’s passion.

Football boot brand Puma is looking forward to a bumper 2008 following the release of its 2007 sales figures.

Although 2007 contributed little in the way of global sporting events, the german based company successfully strengthened its positioning as a desirable sportlifestyle brand, which is well reflected in the improved gross profit margin.

In 2007, worldwide brand sales were up 3.4% currency adjusted, amounting to € 2.7 billion. On a comparable basis, consolidated sales climbed by 4.7% to € 2.4 billion. The gross profit margin jumped by 170 basis points to over 52%, and operating profit was above last year’s, totalling € 372.0 million. Earnings per share increased from € 16.39 to € 16.80.

Jochen Zeitz, CEO stated: “Although Puma faced a challenging year, we did not only meet most of our expectations in 2007, but even exceeded them in many points. Puma had an excellent and successful start into the extraordinary sports year 2008 by winning the African Cup of Nations through Egypt’s win, securing a strong brand visibility on the pitch as the leading equipment supplier. We are determined to make use of all opportunities and chances that offer further growth and we will continue to invest and to strengthen the brand’s as well as the company’s desirability in the long run.”

The top 10 scorers in the Premier League and their football boots of choice.

Twelve games to go and and the Premier League is really hotting up. The weekend games went well for Arsenal, but 5 points is not enough at this stage to make them comfortable favourites for the crown.

Meanwhile, the individual strikers crown is also up for grabs. Adebayor and Ronaldo are sitting pretty at the top right now with 19 goals each. A lead of 6 goals to their closest rival, Manchester City’s new boy Benjani.

Here is the league and the football boots doing the business!

19 goals

Adebayor - Arsenal Adidas F50.7 Tunit football boots

Ronaldo - Man Utd Nike Mercurial Vapor IV

13 goals

Benjani - Man City Adidas Predator Absolute

12 goals

Keane - Tottenham Nike Total 90 Laser

Torres - Liverpool Nike Total 90 Laser

11 goals

Anelka - Chelsea Puma V1.08

Santa Cruz - Blackburn Puma V konstrukt II

Tevez - Man Utd Nike Tiempo Air Legend II

10 goals

Berbatov - Tottenham Adidas Predator Absolute

9 goals

Carew - Aston Villa Puma V1.06 and V1.08

Yakubu - Everton Nike Total 90 Laser

Egypt retained the Africa Cup of Nations, Eto’o scored highest and Puma won as far as football boot brands go.

The Africa Cup of Nations has come of age and is now a tournament that stands up with the best. The standard of the game is very high, as is the excitement that is produced from the continents best footballing nations.

A record 99 goals were scored in the 3 weeks, there was not one penalty shoot out and extra time was used but once, a testament to the attacking tactics employed in Ghana.

Egypt took the trophy when they beat Cameroon 1 - 0 in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. Making it a record 6 wins for the Pharaoh’s.

Also for the 6th time, Puma sponsored a winning Africa Cup of Nations team. Puma have invested heavily in African nations, 2 in total, perhaps wiseley based on the improvement African teams have made in world football. In 28 out of the 32 games, at least one Puma team was present.

Samuel Eto’o was the top goal scorer of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, he scored five goals during the tournament. At just 26 years of age, Eto’o became the Africa Cup of Nations all time record goalscorer. He has scored 16 goals in five competitions.

Puma triumphed again, as Samuel Eto’o wears Puma’s football boots, the Puma V1.08.

Football boot brand Puma hopes for huge sales growth in 2008.

Jean-Francois Palus, Chief Financial Officer of German sportswear group Puma has predicted an increase in sales throughout 2008.

The 2008 footballing calendar has kicked off in Ghana with the African Cup of Nations, to be followed by the 2008 European Football Championships in Austria and Switzerland, before the Beijing Olympics, making 2008 a huge year for sports brands worldwide.

Palus commented: “Puma will use the opportunity of these upcoming sporting events to enhance investments in strengthening its brand. We expect a further increase in our sales and profits in 2008 and we already see positive indications of further growth in our order books.”

Puma is currently sponsoring nine of the 16 teams taking part in the African Nations Cup. The German football boot brand will also sponsor five teams at Euro 2008 and 17 teams will wear Puma kit at the summer Olympics in Beijing.

Their flagship football boot, the V1.08, has also been launched recently to high acclaim, which should put Puma in a good position this year.

Football boot brand Puma has announced a multi- year extension of its kit sponsorship agreement with African Cup of Nations hosts Ghana through to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The announcement was made by Puma CEO Jochen Zeitz and Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi during a special reception in Ghana’s capital of Accra one day after the 2008 African Cup of Nations kicked off with a 2-1 Ghanian victory over Guinea, courtesy of a fantastic Sulley Muntari strike in the closing minutes.

“Ghana was one of the most inspiring stories of the 2006 World Cup, capturing the world’s attention with their exciting style of play and passion for the game,” said Zeitz. “Puma is proud to extend our partnership with them for many years to come and we wish The Black Stars the best of luck during the next three weeks in the African Cup on their home soil.”

The Black Stars have been a dominant force on the African continent for the past half century, winning the African Cup of Nations four times (1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982) and finishing second on three occasions. They have previously hosted or co-hosted (with Nigeria) the African Cup on three occasions, winning twice as host in 1963 and 1978.

In 2006, the team made its first-ever World Cup appearance, upsetting the Czech Republic and the United States in group play before falling to Brazil in the Second Round .

“We are proud to be partners with such a global brand that has made a commitment to football in both Ghana and the African continent on the whole,” said Ghana FA President Nyantakyi. “Puma has consistently delivered on its promise of support – and this is further evidence of Puma’s confidence and commitment in their relationship with the Black Stars and Ghana Football.”

Ghana plays its second ACN Group A match against Namibia on Thursday evening.

Football Boot brand Puma has released its ‘Until then…’ video viral which will spearhead its v.108 football boot marketing campaign during the African Cup of Nations.

The futuristic, animation led campaign will feature as part of Puma’s sponsorship of Eurosport’s television coverage of the African Cup of Nations football tournament. The African Cup of Nations kicks off this Sunday in Ghana, before concluding on February 10.

The football boot brand’s “Until then…” campaign positions the new football boots as an extension of super human powers - the concept being that until humans have bionic powers, the v1.08 are the best football boots available for on-field performance. The video viral features Puma brand endorsees Samuel Eto’o, Peter Crouch, and Freddie Ljungberg.

View the “Until then” video and the “Until then” behind the scenes video on our Football Boots TV player.

Click here to read about the Puma v.108

Click here to order the Puma v.108

Puma, which sponsored all five African teams at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, is again at the forefront of African football when the 2008 African Cup of Nations kick-off on Sunday in Ghana.

As the official supplier to a dozen national teams across Africa, Puma will be worn by nine of the 16 teams in the tournament, including hosts Ghana and defending champion Egypt. “The fact that 20 of 24 games in the group stage of the African Cup of Nations will feature the Puma logo is a statement we are proud to make,” says Puma Chairman and CEO, Jochen Zeitz. “Puma’s commitment to African football as the leading supplier runs deep, much like the passion that Africa shows for the game of football itself.”

Along with Ghana and Egypt, Puma’s teams also include the national teams of Angola, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, as well as African Cup of Nations first-timer Namibia. In fact, seven of the games in the group phase will be between teams wearing the Leaping Cat logo. Each Puma team will wear Puma’s new v1.08 products that launch in stores this week with a full collection of performance footwear, apparel and accessories.

In addition, Puma will activate several activities on the ground during the tournament. Jochen Zeitz and the Peace One Day charity will co-host a youth exhibition game on January 19 in Accra on the eve of the opening game, together with African football legends Roger Milla and Tony Yeboah. Puma supports the Peace One Day charity through the development of its own football collection, which will be presented at the tournament. “This is an exciting kick-off for an extraordinary year in sports for the world and for Puma,” said Zeitz. “We can’t think of a better way to kick it off then with our activities in Africa and the support of Puma’s national teams at the African Cup of Nations.”

View the Puma ‘Until Then’ video viral on the Football Boots TV player

Click here to read about the Puma v.108

Click here to order the Puma v.108

Football boot brand Puma will promote its new v1.08 football boot by sponsoring Eurosport’s television coverage of the African Cup of Nations football tournament.

Puma will run a futuristic, animation-led campaign during the biennial tournament, which runs from January 20 to February 10 in Ghana.

The football boot brand’s “Until then…” campaign positions the new football boots as an extension of super human powers - the concept being that until humans have bionic powers, the v1.08 are the best football boots available for on-field performance.

View the “Until then” video and the “Until then” behind the scenes video on our Football Boots TV player.
All 32 matches of the tournament, which features world-class players including Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba, Frederic Kanoute and Michael Essien, will be broadcast live on Eurosport or Eurosport 2.

Jacques Raynaud, vice-chairman of Eurosport, said: “[The African Cup of Nations] is now a leading event in the global sporting calendar and will provide a strong environment for Puma to reach young, passionate football fans.”

Click here to read about the Puma v.108

Click here to order the Puma V1.08